There is a management maxim that goes: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always win what you’ve always won”. This is recognised, and acted upon, in the Japanese manufacturing philosophy of Kaizen, or continuous improvement.
Kaizen examines the way in which operations are performed, and asks how they can be improved. It then looks at the improved operations and asks how they can be improved, and so on. In other words, it is an iterative process that relies on taking small steps over an extended period. Tiny changes, when accumulated, can have a significant positive impact on a business.
This approach contrasts sharply with the traditional western way of working that tends to involve implementing big changes fast – an approach that can be very exciting, but at the same time much more costly and risky to execute.
Kaizen is all about engaging everyone in the factory to assist in making changes that improve the production process.
